May 20 (PTI) As part of the third phase of its mission to bring back Indian citizens stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Navy will repatriate expatriates stranded in neighbouring Sri Lanka in the beginning of next month. Indian Navy Ship INS Jalashwa under Operation Samudra Setu will evacuate around 700 Indian nationals stranded in the island nation. The ship is expected to start its journey from Colombo on June 1 and arrive in Tuticorin in TN on June 2, they said. more..

May 20 (AD) Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that there are no possibilities of holding an election on June 20 under the current situation in the country. President�s Counsel Saliya Peiris made this declaration on behalf of the Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya and its Member Nalin Abeysekera, when multiple Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed before the SC challenging the date set by more..

May 21 (CT) It was a surprise that last week�s Droll Stories of Gota�s Lockdown attracted so many readers comments. These long and lonesome curfew days folks must be looking for things to do. They say Russia produces so many Grand Masters in chess because of its interminably long winter. I am going to entertain you again. These are clean; if our Editor relaxes his puritanical comments policy, I will relate tales to match Giovanni Boccaccio�s Decameron; yarns about 7 young women more..

May 21 (CT) Covid-19 pandemic, after infecting nearly 5 million people globally, and killing more than three hundred thousand of them so far, does not seem to have receded. While efforts are being made by scientists to discover a vaccine, the world is accepting the bitter truth that it has to live with that virus at least for a while longer. With that acceptance, countries are now counting the economic and social costs of Covid-19, and desperately looking for ways and means more..

May 21 (TM) The cult classic The Sleeping Dictionary starring Hugh Dancy and Jessica Alba was filmed 20 years ago, and the film which essentially launched Alba�s career was also shot entirely on location in Sarawak, Malaysia over 16 weeks. The movie was released in 2003. With its based on true events storyline, the film ran point on its authenticity and Guy Jenkin, the writer and first-time director, had his heart set more..

May 21 (CT) Member of the Elections Commission Prof Ratnajeevan Hoole has expressed concerns that could be forces at work trying to sabotage election matters by denying the Commission its quorum of three, after false rumours that his daughter had not been quarantined since returning to SL from UK. On Wednesday pro-Gotabaya Island newspaper carried a news report that Hoole and his daughter were kicked out of the Commission premises due to a protest by staff at more..

May 21 (DM) Amid the govt�s ongoing measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 - one being the spraying of disinfectant in the belief it would kill the unseen virus - comes the recent situation report issued by the WHO that spraying disinfectant on roads, buildings, vehicles and on individuals is only a waste of time, ineffective and even harmful. It said that spraying disinfectant on the streets, as practised in some countries would not eliminate the new coronavirus & could even pose a health risk. more..

May 21 (CT) One reads a lot in the Western press about how badly the U.K. and US Govts are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the UK's diplomatic strengths has long been its international advocacy for global health, and its poor domestic performance in this area may cause other Nations to think again about the prestige accorded to Britain. Britain's current failures undermine its soft power in int'l arena & less-developed nations more..

May 21 (ST) Things are getting really serious. Sometime last week I saw a headline in a local daily that appeared rather ominous. Police to crack the whip, it read. Cynics among you might well ask what is new in that. They would say the police have been doing so with increasing frequency and ferocity. So it is d�j� vu many times over, thank you. Now that is being quite unfair by these enforcers of law and order. True, now and then they have cracked one or two heads or left a few boot marks on more..

May 21 (CT) Asian Development Bank (ADB) increased its commitments to Sri Lanka by 68.04% (US$ 330 million) to $ 815 million in 2019 over 2018, data on ADB's 2019 Annual Report released on Monday showed. Consequently, ADB's total commitment to the country, 2019 over 2018, increased by 40.91% ($ 586.1 million); to $ 2,018.6 million. ADB's last year's commitment included commitments to the Science and Technology Human Resource Fund ($ 145 million), more..

May 21 (Island) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) does everything but what it must do to hoist the country�s cricket from the abysmal depths it has slid into over the years. It has earned notoriety for indiscipline, politicisation, waste and corruption among other things. The conduct of some of the present-day national cricketers reminds us of the opening lines of Yeats� Second Coming � the falcon cannot hear the falconer/Things fall apart ... Players are at daggers drawn as can be seen from more..

May 21 (Island) A video alleging that Bill Gates is responsible for creating the coronavirus has gone viral on Instagram. As evidence it reproduced a clip from a 2015 TED Talk, in which Gates explains that a highly infectious virus could be deadlier than war, reports NBC News. The most popular conspiracy theory concerning Gates alleges that he engineered the virus as a population control scheme while others suggest that he is somehow profiting from a vaccine which is yet to be developed. more..

May 21 (CT) My dear brothers and sisters! We relate to each other today with the shadow of the corona virus still daunting us. Today we carry the pain of the brutal genocide that was perpetrated on our people 11 years ago. The fact that justice has still not been found for those affected by the war pains us further. Yet the determination to fight for our rights to find justice envelops us this moment. It is in background of structural & cultural genocide more..

May 21 (Island) The new Iranian Ambassador to SL Hashem Ashjazadeh says he is impressed by the development in Sri Lanka over the last 25 years. Speaking after presenting his credentials to Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa in an online ceremony in Colombo earlier this week, Ambassador Ashjazadeh said that closer cooperation between the two countries would result in Sri Lanka receiving more Iranian development assistance. Ashjazadeh who served in Iran�s Colombo mission 25 yrs ago more..

May 21 (GV) The Catholic Church in the tiny village of Iranapalei in the Mullaitheevu district was lit up with 1000 lamps yesterday, 18th May. The thousand lamps were to remember the tens of thousands, possibly even more than a hundred thousand, that had perished during the last stages of the war. Iranapalei and it�s surroundings had experienced some of the bloodiest moments of the war in 2009 and many had died, disappeared, been physically and mentally scarred. more..

May 21 (Island) Prominent govt politicians have been exposed well and truly trying to hoodwink the public on the proposed new cricket stadium at Homagama. One of them � Udaya Gammanpila � was busy trying to make us believe that the new venture � costing in the range of US$ 40 million � will be put up on a grant donated by the International Cricket Council. When the fourth estate checked this with the ICC, the global governing body more..

May 21 (CT) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has come forward to help school cricket coaches who are facing a daunting financial struggle during the present Covid19 pandemic. According to President Shammi Silva, SLC had considered a letter forwarded to them by the Sports Ministry regarding school coaches before arriving at this decision, even though they don't come under the direct purview of SLC. "There are coaches who have gone through lots of hardship due to the present situation; more..

May 21 (FT) European Union (EU) has decided to provide a grant of 3.5 million euros (Rs. 728 million) to boost SL�s tourism industry hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and calls on SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) to provide relevant proposals soon. The request was made at a meeting held between EU Ambassador in SL Denis Chaibi, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando on Tuesday. Commending the Govt�s proactive measures more..

May 21 (Island) Despite not having the grandiose success celebrated in the golden era of the 90s, the track and field sports have witnessed some remarkable improvements in a number of disciplines during the last decade. The perseverance of some hardworking athletes and their dedicated coaches resulted several record breaking performances in both track and field events. Today we take a look at the rise of the men�s javelin. more..

May 21 (EN) Govt of Sri Lanka is in contravention of its international human rights obligations for the four month pre-trial detention of author Shakthika Sathkumara, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said. Issuing an opinion on the detention of Sathkumara, who was remanded in April 2019 over a controversial short story he had authored, the UN body said he was detained for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression. The statement was issued in response more..

May 21 (DN) Chairman of the Employers� Federation of Ceylon Pravir Samarasinghe asserted yesterday that the salaries of employees cannot be unilaterally reduced. He was responding to a question as to whether employers could escape by unilaterally reducing salaries claiming some that the companies or other state sector organizations did not have funds citing COVID 19. An agreed salary in a contract between an employer and employee should not be unilaterally reduced by the employer. more..

May 21 (ST) Sri Lanka has decided to turn to China for import of fertiliser as paddy and other cultivators throughout the country continued to face a crisis of short supplies. National Fertiliser Secretariat Director Mahesh Gammanpila told the Sunday Times they were turning to China to increase imports as they were looking at fertiliser which would be less harmful to the soil compared to the current imports. more..

May 21 (Island) Ceylon Teachers� Union (CTU) alleged that a day�s pay had been deducted from the salaries of principals and teachers in the Eastern Province, to be given to the COVID-19 fund, without their approval. "A letter was sent to institutions saying that during a meeting between the Governor of the province and secretaries of the province it had been agreed to donate a day�s pay of all govt servants to the COVID-19 fund. However teachers and principals associations have requested more..

May 21 (DN) Various tea producing countries were celebrating a tea day of their own, some classified as Black Tea Day and some categorized as Green Tea Day depending on the importance to each industry. The day was different from country to country. Sri Lanka and India used to celebrate 10th of December. However with the initiative of China who is making huge strides in the World Tea Industry, United Nations General Assembly declared May 21, as the International Tea Day. more..

May 21 (CT) A SL-born man who possesses American citizenship has been placed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) wanted list for three counts of gross sexual imposition on a minor, and the alleged rape of a minor and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution in connection with the latter. Chaminda Prabhath Palliyaguru is wanted for three counts of the gross sexual imposition of a minor below the age of more..

May 21 (TM) Approximately 90% of IT-BPM (information technology and business process management) companies in Sri Lanka were ready to ensure zero to minimal impact to their regular operations during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the SL Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM). In a media release, SLASSCOM Chairman and IFS Executive Vice President (VP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ranil Rajapakse said that several companies more..

May 21 (DN) National Development Bank recorded sound financial results for the first quarter ended Mar 31, prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which has subsequently led to exponential economic stresses at home and the world over. In such a backdrop the Bank increased its operating income to LKR 6.6 Bn by 11%. Post-tax profitability was LKR 1.7 Bn up by 27%, partly benefiting from tax removals introduced by the Govt. Bank�s Balance Sheet also expanded by 4% to more..

May 21 (Island) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, invited Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka for Tuesday�s high-profile commemorative event, at the National War Heroes� Monument, Battaramulla. The event coincided with the 11th anniversary of SL�s triumph over the LTTE. Field Marshal Fonseka, however, informed Army Comm. Shavendra Silva of his inability more..

May 21 (CT) Persons stranded in Colombo have been facing immense difficulties without food, as all restaurants and hotels were closed after the curfew was imposed, former Ampara District MP Sathasivam Viyalendiran claimed. He said that 12 persons who were stranded in Colombo after the curfew was imposed, with the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 virus, were accompanied back to Ampara. These persons from Periya Neelawanai, Pandiruppu, Annamalai, Sammanthurai and more..

May 21 (AD) Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Southern, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces, says the Department of Meteorology. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm can be expected particularly in Nuwara-Eliya, Kalutara, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Galle and Matara districts. Wind speed can increase up to 40 kmph at times over the island. The general public is requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages more..

May 21 (Island) SL�s former Ambassador in Geneva Tamara Kunanayakam warned against quitting the UN system. Kunanayakam was responding to Prez Rajapaksa�s declaration at the war heroes� ceremony at the war memorial that he would not hesitate to pull Sri Lanka out of any international organisation that unfairly targeted the country�s war heroes. "President is most likely referring here to the UNHRC and OHCHR. more..

May 21 (PMD) The COVID- 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund now operates under the brand name ITUKAMA. The Fund now has been renamed ITUKAMA � COVID 19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund. The branding was done in order to attract more local and foreign benefactors. Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa established the Fund on March 23rd. The President�s Fund contributed Rs. 100 million to the Fund under the directive of the President. more..

May 21 (DN) Pathfinder Foundation presented Prez Rajapaksa with a report containing a set of action-oriented recommendations from an eminent persons study group aimed at steering Sri Lanka into a post-COVID-19 era of economic recovery. The group suggested that Sri Lanka�s overall focus of economic policy should be on mitigating the hardship of the people, moving towards restoring economic stability in the short-run and improving the investment climate for business. more..

May 21 (CT) The Govt said that it would not grant the Rs 5,000 allowance from June, which was granted to Samurdhi recipients, low income earners and those who had lost their income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardena said this decision was taken by the Cabinet of Ministers following objections raised by the Election Commission (EC). more..

May 21 (FT) Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle yesterday denied rumours that he has resigned from his post. Speculation was rife for the past few weeks that the senior most official of the Finance Ministry was contemplating or has tendered his resignation. �I am very much in office,� said Attygalle when contacted about the speculation. Because of a medical condition, he had been indisposed for a few weeks which officials said may have fuelled speculation which incidentally was more..

May 21 (FT) Former President Maithripala Sirisena has called for the General Elections to be held without further delay under guidelines issued by health authorities. Speaking to media at the SLFP Head Office on Tuesday, the former President said the country needed a new Parliament to address challenges arise from the COVID-19 outbreak. He pointed out that the country needed a new Parliament to address economic challenges and support the policies of Prez Rajapaksa. more..

May 21 (DN) Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi thanked the WHO for providing guidance and advice to the Govt of Sri Lanka to control the global COVID-19 epidemic. Minister was addressing the 73rd Sessions of the World Health Assembly (WHA) held recently. Minister Wanniarachchi stated that Sri Lanka is practicing a multi-sectoral approach to control COVID-19, enabling to keep the death rate to the minimum of 0.9%. more..

May 21 (FT) The footage on TV news was straight out of my favourite Netflix series. A long convoy of glossy black four-wheel drives coming down a dusty road with a heat haze shimmering in the background. Elite guards in red berets and body-armour, sunshades and carrying Heckler-and-Koch MP6s dismount, escorting the Bosses, also in shades, one in civvies and tie, the others in uniform. Marking it a South Asian rather than Latin American setting is a puff of pink saree in a bustle. more..

May 21 (DM) On 31 Dec 2019, the WHO Country Office in China was notified of pneumonia of unknown causes and this novel disease was renamed as COVID- 19 on 11 February 2020. At that time, this disease had already claimed over 1000 lives. A month later, on 11 March, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus declared COVID- 19 a pandemic. Currently, this disease has affected over 4 million people globally. In the backdrop over its extremely infectious and virulent nature, more..